Musical drama The Cypress Hills entertains

The band played on stage with the actors when the different characters performed their songs. The band members are, from left, Mark Penner (guitar), Ed Doyle (upright bass), Dave Cyca (guitar), and Jille Shotton (banjo).Matthew Liebenberg

The popular historical musical drama The Cypress Hills would never be the same returned to the stage at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current for a third time, Nov. 14-18.

Previous performances in November 2014 and April 2015 were sold out and the tickets for all five performances were also sold out this time. The play depicts a tumultuous time in the history of the Cypress Hills, including the Cypress Hills Massacre and the march westward by the North West Mounted Police. Swift Current playwright and director Stew Tasche added a monologue and music for a new character to this latest production of the historical musical drama. This production included a cast of seven actors, a four-member band, and a production team of four people.

Two American wolf hunters, performed by Doug Sawatzky (at left) and Gord Nodge, make a menacing appearance on stage.